SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State men's basketball team kicks off a new era this weekend in Las Vegas, New Mexico, as the Rams open their season under first-year head coach Vinay Patel at the LSC/RMAC Conference Challenge, hosted this season by New Mexico Highlands.

The Rams will face the hosting Cowboys on Friday afternoon before taking on Fort Lewis on Saturday afternoon.

Patel returns seven players from last season's team that went 20-10 overall and qualified for the NCAA South Central Regional.

Additionally, Patel has brought in eight new players to fill out this season's roster, including four from the Division I ranks.

The top returner scorer from last season's team is Devaughn Thomas, who averaged 9.3 points per game while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range.

The Rams also return big man Fredelin De La Cruz and guards Andre Nunley, Trevor Berry, and BJ Anderson.
 
SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
New Mexico Highlands went 15-14 last season under head coach Mike Dominguez in his first season at the helm of the Cowboy basketball program.

The Cowboys only return two players from last season's team – Tyler Rodgers and Mario Archuleta – who combined to score 10.1 points per game a year ago.

The Rams and the Cowboys have played twice, with each team claiming a victory. The Rams defeated the Cowboys 96-94 in last season's opener, with Thomas leading all players with 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 11-of-15 shooting from the free-throw line.
 
SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS
Fort Lewis went 19-9 a season ago under head coach Bob Pietrack, who enters his ninth season leading the Skyhawk basketball program. Like the Rams, the Skyhawks are receiving votes in the preseason NABC Top 25 Poll.

The Skyhawks return all-RMAC players in Akeul Kot and Brenden Boatwright. Kot averaged 16.6 points per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from three; Boatwright averaged 11.5 points per game while grabbing 5.7 boards per contest.

The Rams are 3-2 against the Skyhawks, having won the last two matchups. Last season, the Rams defeated the Skyhawks 98-87 behind Thomas' 26 points on 8-for-10 shooting, including making all four attempts from three.

Following this weekend, the Rams open their home schedule next weekend against Arlington Baptist.